Welcome to this week's edition of The Newy List!
From a major country festival and a full week of theatre to a Saturday oyster festival and a quiet gallery stop, this is a properly varied spring week. We have spread the list across the city, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and wine country, with a few easy free options alongside the ticketed highlights.
Featured Events
Strummingbird Newcastle | 2026
Post Malone, Bailey Zimmerman, Cooper Alan, Brad Cox, Cam, Sons of the East and Max Jackson lead this all-ages country festival. Expect a full afternoon and evening of music, line dancing and food-and-drink pop-ups by the harbour.
•When: Saturday 17 October, from 12pm
•Where: Foreshore Park, Newcastle East
Rose Week at Hunter Valley Gardens
A spring day among more than 35,000 rose bushes, with daily talks, a rose-care demonstration and time for a slow wander through the gardens. The Garden Terrace Café is open daily.
•When: Monday 12–Sunday 18 October, 9am–5pm; rose talk and demonstration daily at 12pm
•Where: Hunter Valley Gardens, Broke Road, Pokolbin
•Price: From $28 admission
•More info:
Disney’s FROZEN The Broadway Musical
Newcastle’s Very Popular Theatre Company brings the stage version of the animated classic to the Civic, with familiar songs and a 2-hour-20-minute running time. Recommended for ages 5+.
•When: Tuesday 13–Sunday 18 October; Tue 7pm, Wed 11am & 7pm, Thu–Fri 7pm, Sat 1pm & 7pm, Sun 1pm
•Where: Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle
•Price: From $54 pp in a four-ticket bundle; otherwise from $69 (plus fees)
•More info:
MUSIC
The Mikado, presented by Hunter Opera
Hunter Opera gives Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta a steampunk Brassworks setting, accompanied by the Lake Mac Philharmonic Players. There are matinee and evening options across the weekend.
•When: Friday 16 October, 7:30pm; Saturday 17 October, 2pm & 7:30pm; Sunday 18 October, 2pm
•Where: Warners Bay Theatre, 39 Lake Street, Warners Bay
•Price: Ticketed; see booking page
•More info:
Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier
Ex-Radio Birdman guitarist Chris Masuak brings Dog Soldier’s Shiny Side Tour to the Hamilton Station Hotel, with SPLODGE supporting. A small-room rock show for anyone who prefers their Thursday nights loud.
•When: Thursday 15 October, 8:30pm
•Where: The Hamilton Station Hotel, 2–6 Beaumont Street, Islington
•Price: Ticketed; see Oztix booking link
•More info:
The Lazy Eyes - Cheesy Love Songs Tour
Sydney indie-rock four-piece The Lazy Eyes brings its new Cheesy Love Songs era to Mayfield, alongside the fan favourites that helped make its live shows such a draw. This is an 18+ show.
•When: Saturday 17 October, 8:00pm
•Where: The Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mayfield
•Price: $28.60
•More info:
Jetlag - Turbulence Single Launch
Newcastle band Jetlag launches its new single with Molly’s Garden, Glycerine and Citruss in an all-ages afternoon bill. A good local-music option for people who would rather not begin their weekend at midnight.
•When: Sunday 18 October, 3:30pm
•Where: King Street Warehouse, Newcastle
•Price: From $22.95
•More info:
ARTS & CULTURE
Bird and Brush Art Exhibition
Morpeth Gallery presents realistic Australian bird paintings by leading avian artists. A gentle outing for art and nature lovers, with enough time afterwards for a wander through Morpeth.
•When: Thursday 15–Sunday 18 October, 10am–4:30pm
•Where: Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green Street, Morpeth
•Price: Free entry
•More info:
Conversations Art and Dementia
A friendly, facilitated gallery visit and art-making session for people living with dementia and their carers. Artworks are used as prompts for conversation and self-expression.
•When: Thursday 15 October, 10:30am–12pm
•Where: Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 230 High Street, Maitland
•Price: Free; bookings essential
•More info:
Sun Room
Muloobinba/Newcastle artist Dan Nelson opens a new exhibition of luminous paintings that move between still life and landscape. Drop in over the weekend or make it part of a Maitland gallery afternoon.
•When: Opens Saturday 17 October; exhibition runs to Sunday 7 February, 9am–4pm
•Where: Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 230 High Street, Maitland
•Price: Not stated
•More info:
The Candle Experience
UAINE’s Morpeth studio offers a guided fragrance session where you work through scent preferences, learn the basics of candle ingredients and take home a curated candle bag. Sessions are available across the week; book ahead.
•When: Thursday 15–Sunday 18 October, 11:00am–4:30pm
•Where: UAINE Candles, 162 Swan Street, Morpeth
•Price: From $49.95
•More info:
FOOD, WINE & MARKETS
Earth Market Maitland
Meet local growers at this Slow Food market and stock up on seasonal produce, eggs, honey, olives, herbs and pantry goods. Bring a bag; it is a sensible sort of Thursday outing.
•When: Thursday 15 October; time not stated
•Where: The Levee, 396 High Street, Maitland
•Price: Free entry
•More info:
The Sunday Muster Artisan Markets
A boutique market of handmade goods, artisan food and local makers, with live music and café dining on site. An easy browse-and-lunch plan for Sunday.
•When: Sunday 18 October, 9am–2pm
•Where: Mortels Sheepskin Factory, 1 Weakleys Drive, Thornton
•Price: Free entry
•More info:
Karuah Oyster & Timber Festival
Fresh local oysters, food and market stalls, a woodchop and the Great Karuah Duck Race give this community festival its distinctly local character. Pack a hat and make a day of it.
•When: Saturday 17 October; time not stated
•Where: Lionel Morten Oval, 1 Mustons Road, Karuah
•Price: Free admission
•More info:
SPORT & COMMUNITY
Lake Mac Action Fest 2026
The Offshore Superboat Championships take over Lake Macquarie, with race commentary and a big screen at the Warners Bay live site. Markets, food stalls, music, children’s activities and the foreshore setting make it an easy spectator weekend.
•When: Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October, 10am–3pm
•Where: Warners Bay foreshore live site; racing visible around Lake Macquarie
•Price: Free; some children’s activities are paid
•More info:
Fingal Bay Parkrun
This inclusive, untimed 5km community event welcomes walkers, joggers, runners, volunteers and spectators. Turn up for the sea air and take it at your own pace.
•When: Saturday 17 October, 8am
•Where: 3 Marine Drive, Fingal Bay
•Price: Free
•More info:
Maitland’s True Crime Tour
Maitland’s old streets have a few stories tucked behind their tidy façades. This limited-capacity walking tour revisits the city’s notorious crimes and haunted corners, starting outside the railway station.
•When: Saturday 17 October, 5pm–6:30pm
•Where: Meet outside Maitland Railway Station, Station Street, Maitland
•Price: Adult from $34; child from $25; family from $100
•More info:
LOOKING FORWARD
Kim Wilde - Closer Tour
A modest heads-up for the 80s-pop contingent: Kim Wilde arrives at the Civic in late November with Kids in America, You Keep Me Hangin’ On and more. If that sounds like your kind of Friday night, it is worth booking before the good seats disappear.
•When: Friday 27 November, 8pm
•Where: Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle
•Price: $89.90 plus fees
•More info:
Murder Mystery Takeover: Halloween Edition @ Esca Bimbadgen
This fixed-date Halloween dinner combines interactive mystery entertainment with sparkling on arrival, roaming canapés, a main and dessert. At $110 per person, it is the sort of group night worth locking in before seats get tight.
When: Friday 30 October 2026, canapés from 6:00 PM, event begins 6:30 PM ·
Where: Esca Restaurant, Bimbadgen Estate, 790 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin · $110 per person
Recommendation:
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